You can only have one: rear diff lock vs 5-speed?

[Skinfaxi]

Auto+locker all the way.

Sure manual shifting is fun in the right circumstances, but manual clutches SUCK.

* They suck for towing (Autos have higher towing capacity, all truck towing capacities are rated for Auto because it;s quite a bit higher than a standard clutch allows)

* They suck for hill climbing, rock crawling and tricky offroad situations. (Seen manual users nearly burn their cluctch out on the trail numerous times and have to sit back and wait for it to cool off for 20-30 minutes before continuing. NO THANKS. Not to mention almost always having a much harder time on obstacles than autos)

* They suck for traffic which I drive in every day...

Had manuals all my life till an auto Taco and now my auto 4R and would NEVER go back. The "fun" stops quickly and too often and just becomes a real PITA fast in a lot of situations... In a dune buggy or baja bug racing around the desert and nothing else? Sure. In my 4R? No way.

On a 3rd gen, the 5 speed is better for towing, no question. I've owned 3 autos and one 5 (all 5VZ.) The 5 speeds have an extra short 1st to get rolling, and after that you have almost no heat generation that you'd get with the auto, and way more control, especially from engine braking. Don't need to worry about O/D either. A 3rd gen 5 speed with rear airbags & tundra brakes is actually a pretty good setup.

There's a reason most hardcore tow rigs are manuals. They don't make them anymore in lighter duty trucks (Ford SuperDuty etc.) because a huge majority of those customers don't actually tow with them, and manual volume would be small. Big rigs, however...

 

[JayRolla]

I have both the 5 speed and a E locker. But the manual saved me from rolling on this obstacle. Clutch in and rolled back

Our trucks dont have enough power with the auto. So you let go of gas its the same as letting clutch in. It just rolls back. Ive done that many times.

 

[JayRolla]

I recently joined the 4x4 t4r scene from years of tuner 6spds and there are moments I wish my t4r was little more peppy, but if I want to be shifting again, I rather it be in a car like the porsche cayman s.

I want my auto t4r locked to drive over stuff.

I am actually looking for a locked rear 4.10 axle to swap it into my t4r. (4.10 cause I don't feel like doing the front diff swap).

Im with you there man. I went from a 400+whp AWD Turbo 5 speed directly to my 4runner. It was tough, but im used to it. And I completely forget once I hit the dirt. But its also why Im building me a 10 second car just for fun at the track. I dont like having speed on the street anymore. To much risk with all that power under your foot. LOL.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'd never use a rear locker since I'm not into hardcore trails.

I've owned auto transmissions and manual. All I have to say is, I miss my 91 Pickup only because of the 5-speed transmission. It was just fun to drive, I felt like I was more in sync with my vehicle than any other. I drive in traffic a lot too and didn't mind the manual transmission at all.

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

I have owned 10 vehicles and never owned an automatic. I do like the feeling, control, and the little extra power of the 5-speed in the 4Runner. However, if I had to make the choice, I'd lose the daily driving fun of the 5-speed to gain the added control of the locker off-road.

 

[EatonKyleH]

I'll start by saying I do have both, but the locker is more helpful. The 5-speed is more fun/challenging to drive and a little more reliable, but does not improve the overall capability of vehicle. A locker makes a huge difference.

This.
I have both as well. If the truck is going to be used more for trails Auto keeps things easier and more forgiving then diff lock will aid you up when you need it.

If its more of a daily driver/easy trail use truck the 5-speed is much more enjoyable to drive and feels much more powerful on the road. The stock low range is sufficient for most things with the exception of larger obstacles.

I'm jealous of the Auto guys fairly often on the trail but enjoy wheeling a manual. I've only owned manual vehicles my entire life but wheeling one was a whole new adventure and required a lot of practice and fine tuning. Sometimes it can be frustrating and you'll likely spend much more on it to achieve the same low speed control the autos naturally have.

 

[steezemcqueen]

I think we should specify.

Is this choice for everyday use and wheeling or just strictly offroad.

 

[ARC]

This.
I have both as well. If the truck is going to be used more for trails Auto keeps things easier and more forgiving then diff lock will aid you up when you need it.

If its more of a daily driver/easy trail use truck the 5-speed is much more enjoyable to drive and feels much more powerful on the road. The stock low range is sufficient for most things with the exception of larger obstacles.

I'm jealous of the Auto guys fairly often on the trail but enjoy wheeling a manual. I've only owned manual vehicles my entire life but wheeling one was a whole new adventure and required a lot of practice and fine tuning. Sometimes it can be frustrating and you'll likely spend much more on it to achieve the same low speed control the autos naturally have.

Good thing you are getting all those extra levers to keep your 5speed moving :crutch:

 

[EatonKyleH]

Good thing you are getting all those extra levers to keep your 5speed moving :crutch:

haha! Someone has to keep things slow and under control!

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/92196326@N04/16679154748" title="IMG_5701-1 by Fishwerks., on Flickr"><img src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8604/16679154748_a8e182bb38_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="IMG_5701-1"></a>

stoked to wheel with you again this summer Andrew.

 

[RedRunner_87]

As much as I love having a manual, I would have to go with an E-Locker. Much more useful on the trails and DDing.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Manual transmission, mainly because I drive more on the road than off.

This being reality, I can have both Although, having positraction has been great for the road, a locking positraction diff would be a wet dream.

Screw automatic transmissions.

 

[BrandonF]

5 speed elocker with dual cases would be the best of all worlds for me. As much as I love the 5 speed, I'll admit crawling does suck with 4.10's, 33's and the stock t-case

 

[steezemcqueen]

5 speed elocker with dual cases would be the best of all worlds for me. As much as I love the 5 speed, I'll admit crawling does suck with 4.10's, 33's and the stock t-case

I hear that setup is pretty awesome